Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALGURZON’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGURZON’, particularly characterized by having copper, striped and netted flowers with red-purple lips, 1 to 3 peduncles that are medium long and moderate, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALGURZON’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALGURZON’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive copper, striped and netted flowers with red-purple lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALGURZON’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in July 2010 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1805’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘PHALFYQDHA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,456).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in May 2013. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2016 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, thinly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Apr. 26, 2018, by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the Inventor. ‘PHALGURZON’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALGURZON’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Copper, striped and netted flowers with red-purple lips;     -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is medium long and moderate; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in April 2019. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage of ‘PHALGURZON’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALGURZON’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALGURZON’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALGURZON’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in April 2019 on flowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALGURZON’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1805’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘PHALFYQDHA’ (U.S. Plant             Pat. No. 27,456). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (between RHS 190B and 190C)             colored roots with branching lateral roots having             yellow-green (RHS 144C) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24             weeks. After transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are             finished after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with             panicle inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 37.0 cm to 42.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 32.0 cm to 34.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 18.0 cm             to 20.0 cm. Width: 8.0 cm to 9.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 20 degrees and 40 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Rough.             Thickness: 2.0 mm to 3.0 mm. Variegation: Absent. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—9 to 14.         -   Length.—37.0 cm to 42.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 6.0 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of green (RHS 146B) and brown (RHS N199B).         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Number of inflorescences.—1 to 3.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 180.0 mm to             220.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 57.0 mm to 62.0 mm. Diameter: 67.0 mm to             72.0 mm. Depth of lip: 17.0 mm to 19.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 12 to 17 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium to large. Length: 21.0 mm             to 23.0 mm. Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.             Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145B) with a touch of             purplish-red (RHS 185C).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from             base to tip): 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm. Width: 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm.             Position of the broadest part of the petal: At the base.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color:             Greenish-yellow (RHS 2B). Over color: Purplish-red (RHS             184C) at the base; red striped (RHS 181B) and slightly             netted (RHS 181A) at the margin. Lower surface: Basic color:             Light yellow-green (RHS 154D). Over color: Diluting red             stripes (RHS 182B).         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 32.0 mm to             34.0 mm. Width: 26.0 mm to 28.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Light yellow-green (RHS             2C). Over color: Purplish-red (RHS 186A to 186B) at the             base; red striped (RHS 181B) and netted (RHS 181A). Lower             surface: Basic color: Greenish-yellow (RHS 151A). Over             color: Diluting red stripes (RHS 182A to 182B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 32.0 mm to             34.0 mm. Width: 23.0 mm to 25.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Greenish-yellow (RHS             2B). Over color: Red (RHS 184B) at the base; red stripes and             netting (RHS 184A). Lower surface: Basic color:             Greenish-yellow (RHS 151A). Over color: Diluting red stripes             (RHS 182B).         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 5.0             mm to 7.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Reddish-purple (RHS N78B)             at the base and orange-yellow (RHS 163B) toward the tip.             Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type IV (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); weakly             spatulate. Margin: Undulated. Length: 13.0 mm to 15.0 mm.             Width: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Color: Light yellow (RHS 12C) with             red stripes (RHS 185A) at the base; red (RHS 185A) on one             side; reddish-orange (RHS 174B) in the middle and             purplish-red (RHS 70A) toward the other side.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Margin: Entire. Length: 18.0             mm to 20.0 mm. Width: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Color: Slightly             yellow (RHS 12A) at the base; red (RHS 185A) and             purplish-red (RHS 70A) toward whiskers.         -   Callus.—Average size: Small. Height: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.             Length: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Width: 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Color:             Reddish-orange (RHS 171A) with yellow spots (RHS 13A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 5.0 mm to             6.0 mm. Color: Light reddish-purple (RHS N78D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Diameter: 2.5 mm to             2.8 mm. Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145C) and light             yellow-green (RHS 145D) toward the flower.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 37.0 mm to 40.0 mm. Diameter: 2.9 mm to             3.2 mm. Color: Yellow-green (RHS 145A) and light             yellow-green (RHS 145C) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALGURZON’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-1805’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALGURZON’ has striped and netted flowers, trullate apical lobes, weakly spatulate lateral lobes, light reddish-purple columns, and whiskers, whereas ‘01-1805’ has flecked flowers, rhombic apical lobes, oblong lateral lobes, white columns, and no whiskers. Additionally, ‘PHALGURZON’ has larger flowers than ‘01-1805’.

‘PHALGURZON’ differs from male parent plant ‘PHALFYQDHA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,456) in that ‘PHALGURZON’ has weakly spatulate lateral lobes, reddish-orange calluses, light reddish-purple columns, and flowers with a striped and netted pattern, whereas ‘PHALFYQDHA’ has spatulate lateral lobes, yellow calluses, white columns, and flowers with a centered pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALGURZON’ has smaller flowers than ‘PHALFYQDHA’.

‘PHALGURZON’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALDIQYK’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,342) and ‘PHALKUZEL’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 16/350,272). ‘PHALGURZON’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDIQYK’ in that ‘PHALGURZON’ has reddish-orange calluses and trullate apical lobes, whereas ‘PHALDIQYK’ has yellow calluses and rhombic apical lobes. Additionally, ‘PHALGURZON’ has smaller flowers than ‘PHALDIQYK’.

‘PHALGURZON’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALKUZEL’ in that ‘PHALGURZON’ has reddish-orange calluses, trullate apical lobes, and flowers with a striped and netted pattern, whereas ‘PHALKUZEL’ has yellow calluses, rhombic apical lobes, and flowers with a shaded and small center pattern. Additionally, ‘PHALGURZON’ has smaller flowers than ‘PHALKUZEL’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGURZON’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 